Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-23
BAPTISM OF A BEL.
= Curious Ceremony Recently Performea
I'm an Old French City.


In an Old French City.
An imposing ceremony took place
on e recent Sunday in the Church St
Ouen, of the baptism of a bell. We
wenS early 70 secure good seats, but
were far too late Every place in the
center of the building from entrance 10
choir was so closely packed that there
N%Ss no room for ''just one more" We
had to find our way around by the side
entrance, ana yet there were no seats.
AS we could not think of standing for
three hours, we went across the
''Place" to the house of an acquaintance
and asked the loan of two chairs.
Armed with these we onee more made
our way through the crowd to a posi-
ton where we could hear quite web.
and when the time came for seeing we
followed the example of our devcrE
neighbors and stood up on our chairs.
The church was deliberately decorated
with tall palms and beautiful flowers,
as well as with rich gold-embroidered
silk banners. The tall candles about
the altar were burning with soft, pure
light, while the glorious sunshine
pouring in through the stained glass
windows diffused over all their bright,
harmonious light. Nothing SO express
sive, so real, as these marvellous pages
of glass in which the old painters have
been able to rival in brillianoy, vigor
and originality the canvas of the best
masters. The large bell was Suspended
by stout ropes just without the en-
trance to the choir, and the top was
concealed by mass of choice eXotics,
and around it was tied broad pink
ribbon with flowing ends. The godpar-
ents were Madame Lafond and Father
Laurent. Chairs were placed for
them beside the Archbishop's throne.
The Archbishop OBLIGATED and the bell
received the name of Marcelle Julie.
The music was fine, strong band aid
ing the grand organ, which is one OF
the finest in Roucn. The ceremony
ended with a lavish distribution OF
sweets. Each box contained quite one
pound. These sweets, called 'dragees,'
are of divers colors and are what We
call burnt almonds, the nut in some of
them being replaced by liqueur. The
boxes were pretty pale rose color, tied
with ribbon, and on the cover was the
bell in gold, underneath the name, and
above the Archbishop's hat. The
Church of Saint Ouen is uneues-
the finest in Rouen as well as
one of the most ancient. Its erection
covered a period of five hundred years.
1t is impossible to view it without be-
ing impressed by the grandeur of its
proportions, the harmony In the de-
tails. the purity of its lines You can
admire it from all sides and in full
light. 1t stands in the middle of a
large garden. 1t has suffered many
During the revolution it
was successfully transformed into a
museum, a hay loft and a mandatory
of arms. 1t is this that has discolored
the stones, giving st smoky tint The
statues that stood IN inches in the mas
sve stone columns were taken down al
this time and have never been replaced !
but stand along the walls Against J
one of the columns near the western
door is a large marble basin of holy
water. Looking into it you see re-
Elected the vault of the church in its
whole extent.-Roaseas Cor. albany dr.
gas.